To create a summary table quickly, users select a table’s auto-summarize feature, then select the data set columns whose data to group and aggregate. When the auto-summarize feature is enabled, the software performs the grouping and aggregating. To support this feature, you must configure each data set column to provide the software with the appropriate information to perform these tasks. For example, it makes sense to group sales data by order date or product line, but not by revenue. Conversely, it makes sense to aggregate revenue values, but not order date or product line values.

Not all numeric columns are suitable as measures. Sometimes, it makes sense to group on numeric values, such as order numbers or customer numbers. In these cases, you would change the column’s analysis type to dimension. Sometimes, it does not make sense to aggregate numeric data, such as MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price), which might be more appropriate as an attribute of a product dimension.